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Browsing From the desk of Fr. Tharp

Third Sunday of Lent

From the Desk of Father Tharp

Sunday Morning Masses     March 31, 2019          Celebrant: Fr. Schmitz

 

 


Feast of the Annunciation

 

The Solemnity of the Annunciation is Monday, March 25 (exactly nine months before Christmas).  We believe life begins at conception, so we are not just celebrating the first Joyful mystery; we are celebrating the incarnation.  Masses will be at the normal time slots of any Monday at both parishes; however there will be a recitation of the rosary at St. Ann by the Knights of Columbus on Monday evening at 7:00 p.m.

 

CMA

 

St. Ann has reached 90% of our assigned CMA goal, but only 20% of the families have made a donation or pledge.  If the other eighty percent of parish families would make even a very small donation; as a parish, we would achieve our goal.  Please consider even the smallest gift. 

 

Stations of the Cross

 

Fr. Tharp will pray the Stations of the Cross with Benediction at St. Ann on the Fridays during Lent (not Good Friday) at 7:00 p.m.   and Stations of the Cross and Benediction at Sacred Heart during Lent (not on Palm Sunday) on Sunday Afternoons at 3:00 p.m. 

 

The lay presiders at Sacred Heart will have Stations of the Cross lead by the Laity on the Friday evenings during Lent (not Good Friday) at 7:00 p.m. (No Benediction) 

 

Reflection on Scripture

 

“Why do bad things happen to good people?”  This question has been asked by every generation, and answers to this quandary have ranged from the contrived to the absurd.  The common perspective among the people of Palestine at the time of Jesus was akin to the law of karma in Asian philosophy.  Most people at the time of Jesus felt that bad things happened because of some sin you had earlier committed or because of something done by your ancestor.  In today’s gospel, Jesus does not answer the question as the crowd would have wanted him to.  Rather, he reminds the people that the only tragedy worth worrying about is the loss of your soul.  Everything else is mundane and inconsequential.    

 

In the reading from 1 Corinthians we are reminded that our hearts must be focused on Heaven.  Therefore, if you even give a passing thought to the things of this world, you have been drawn into futility.

 

In the first reading from Exodus, God gives Moses his name.  The significance is that when you know God’s name, you can pray to him personally.   When you can make God listen to you, you are really special.

 

In the final analysis, Jesus answers the question of the ages by redefining the concept of winning and losing.  Let your heart be concerned and distracted by this world and you lose.  After all, everything in this world is here today and gone tomorrow.  Focus your heart on God and heaven and regardless of what happens here and now, you are a winner for all eternity.

 

Next Weekend: Fourth Sunday of Lent

    

Jos 5:9a, 10-12

2 Cor 5:17-21

Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

 

Theme: The parable of the prodigal son.

 

 

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